SAN DIEGO – The key to jumpstarting the Dodgers' offense all along might not have been getting hits. Instead, it turned out to be getting hit.

San Diego starter Casey Kelly plunked Hanley Ramirez and Shane Victorino during a two-out rally in the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 8-4 victory over the Padres on Thursday at Petco Park.

Kelly was the top prospect acquired from Boston when the Padres sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox in December 2010.

The rally started with Matt Kemp's two-out double. A walk to Adrian Gonzalez followed by the two hit batters brought in one run and loaded the bases for Luis Cruz, who delivered with a two-run single. A.J. Ellis followed with another run-scoring hit.

Around the four-run inning, the Dodgers scored runs in the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings.

The Dodgers combined to score 16 runs in the past two games — the most the team has plated since scoring 19 in games against the Miami Marlins on Aug. 24-25.

The improved punch comes at a time when the Dodgers can't afford to make mistakes. With St.Louis off Thursday, the Dodgers moved to three games back in the race for the second wild card.

They also got defensive contributions, mainly from second baseman Nick Punto, who was playing for the ailing Mark Ellis. Punto started a 4-6-3 double play to end a rally in the second and made a diving stop on a line drive, robbing Chase Headley of a hit.

Punto also sparked the offense, after Wednesday's four-run game with two hits and a walk.

Mattingly wants more

While Manager Don Mattingly didn't want to delve in-depth on Hanley Ramirez with less than a week remaining in the season, he did say he's seen enough from the shortstop to know he should be getting more.

"To me, he's better than what we're seeing," Mattingly said. "He has the ability to be better than what we're seeing."

Before Thursday's game, Ramirez has played in 57 games for the Dodgers since being acquired from the Miami Marlins, hitting .265 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. Thursday. Ramirez went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.

And while Ramirez's history with the Marlins suggests his bat more than made up for his deficiencies with the glove, that gap is closing.

Ramirez's best offensive year came in 2009. He led the league with a .342 batting average. He slugged 24 homers and drove in 106 runs. And while he has 24 homers this year, the batting average is .090 points lower.

Mattingly said he and Ramirez will continue discussing a change in approach that would have him think .340, and not a 30 homers.

"For me, he's a lot more productive when he's thinking small and not thinking big," Mattingly said.

Ramirez, for his part, said he's most comfortable when he's not thinking, instead preferring to relax and let his talent do the things that have worked in the past.

"I don't try to do too many things in my head. I want to keep it simple," Ramirez said. "It's not easy when you put too many things in your head. It's got to be effortless, effortless and try to do everything nice and smooth. I don't try too hard."

Ramirez's reputation as a player who doesn't "try too hard" might not make him an endearing figure, but Mattingly knows his heart is in the right place.

"I just come here and want to help this team win," Ramirez said.

But whether he does it at shortstop or third base in 2013 is still up in the air.

"I don't want to get into cutting up Hanley at short because right now, it doesn't matter. Hanley's playing short," Mattingly said. "It's a discussion for the winter and it's a decision for the organization going forward."

Note

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Clayton Kershaw will start for the Dodgers today as they begin a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies. ... Mattingly said the Dodgers might have to consider sitting right fielder Andre Ethier more often against left-handed pitching if his woes at the plate continue. Against left-handed pitchers, Ethier is batting just .215 this season. ... Second baseman Mark Ellis missed Thursday's game, his second in a row because of flu-like symptoms. Ellis said he's feeling better and hopes to play today.

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